As I am now the official President of the Couch Potato Genealogists, I've been thinking about how I am using Twitter to learn more about genealogy and gain new ideas and friends, all while relaxing on my couch. I do this with the miracle of a Twitter app like TweetDeck on my iPod touch.
This morning, for example, I read an article from The Examiner about the cemeteries in Fort Worth in this interesting article, titled, Cemetery Visits Reveal More than Dates in Genealogy Research.
I emailed the Tweet to myself so that I would remember to read it (on not so teensy a screen) to see if it was appropriate reading for my blog. As you can see it was and I hope you enjoyed it.
Of course, having a wireless network in my home makes it possible for me to read my Tweets in my bathrobe (and no, you don't get to see a photo of that!). I have enjoyed reading tweets from the various conferences that are covered in tweets from dedicated genea-tweepeople. I'll probably never go to some of those conferences so it is great to read about them in real time!
Today, Drew Smith's blog, asks if Twitter-ing about Genealogy in just a fad and therefore has any hope of lasting. I noticed that he didn't cover this in his book on Social Networking, but then, the book was written and published before any of us couch-potato genealogists got on board.
I admit, I thought there was little value in using Twitter until I began to enjoy the tweets by my fellow geneabloggers, just as I enjoy reading blog posts and watching and listening to Lisa Louise Cooke's Genealogy Gems podcasts. Reading genealogical mystery fiction in ebook format is great too, espcially when you can exchange tweets with the author.
Aren't we supposed to enjoy each other's company and spend time on our own professional development? Long ago, I remember researching my family history in isolation and I can tell you now that I'm not going back.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
The Blood Detective
If you are a genealogist/family historian and you like mysteries, this is a must read. I bought this book for the Kindle app on my iPod Touch and although the publisher did not do a good job of preparing it for the electronic reading experience, I am still happy with my purchase.
If I can put down my other reading, my genealogy work and shut off the TV, that means the book is a hit. I probably will buy the Audible version just to listen to it on the beach. [I think I am in love with Nigel.] Penguin Books Preview
I made this book cover from a shot of the actual ebook cover and enhanced it so it would gain your attention. I belong to a Flickr group where we take a photo of the book, post it and write a review. Several people who belong to this group enjoy mysteries and some are also genealogists.
The author, Dan Waddell, from the UK has written a sequel and it has been released. I may have to buy the hardcover I will miss Nigel Barnes, the character central to the story who is the genealogist/family historian so much when this is over. (see my recent Tweet Experience with the author)
Read the author's basis for the genealogical part of the book
Sorry, but I must go back to reading.....
If I can put down my other reading, my genealogy work and shut off the TV, that means the book is a hit. I probably will buy the Audible version just to listen to it on the beach. [I think I am in love with Nigel.] Penguin Books Preview
I made this book cover from a shot of the actual ebook cover and enhanced it so it would gain your attention. I belong to a Flickr group where we take a photo of the book, post it and write a review. Several people who belong to this group enjoy mysteries and some are also genealogists.
The author, Dan Waddell, from the UK has written a sequel and it has been released. I may have to buy the hardcover I will miss Nigel Barnes, the character central to the story who is the genealogist/family historian so much when this is over. (see my recent Tweet Experience with the author)
Read the author's basis for the genealogical part of the book
Sorry, but I must go back to reading.....
Friday, August 28, 2009
Benjamin F. BURROWS
Burrows Cemetery Transcription Project
Benjamin F. Burrows / April 15, 1859 / April 30, 1924
Front Row, Left Side [Grave #2]
Benjamin Frankin BURROWS was a coal merchant.
Benjamin F.7 (Benjamin6, Nathan5, John4, John3, John2, Robert1) son of Benjamin BURROWS and his (1st) wife Ann Marie AVERY. He was the husband of Anne B. GREENE.
Benjamin was born 15 Apr 1859 in Groton, New London, CT, married by Rev. George L. Hunt to Anne B. GREENE on 18 Oct 1880 at Groton and died 30 Apr 1924. He is buried next to his wife.
Benjamin and Anne had two daughters, Edna E. BURROWS (1881-1957) and Phebe Greene BURROWS (1884-1964)
Source: Burrows genealogy p. 154
Benjamin F. Burrows / April 15, 1859 / April 30, 1924
Front Row, Left Side [Grave #2]
Benjamin Frankin BURROWS was a coal merchant.
Benjamin F.7 (Benjamin6, Nathan5, John4, John3, John2, Robert1) son of Benjamin BURROWS and his (1st) wife Ann Marie AVERY. He was the husband of Anne B. GREENE.
Benjamin was born 15 Apr 1859 in Groton, New London, CT, married by Rev. George L. Hunt to Anne B. GREENE on 18 Oct 1880 at Groton and died 30 Apr 1924. He is buried next to his wife.
Benjamin and Anne had two daughters, Edna E. BURROWS (1881-1957) and Phebe Greene BURROWS (1884-1964)
Source: Burrows genealogy p. 154
Couch Potato Family History
Last night, using my 2G iPod Touch and the Kindle app for it, I downloaded (wirelessly) the first book in Dan Waddell's book series aptly titled, The Blood Detective.
This is the tweet that I sent to Dan and his reply. Isn't it great that from my couch, I can work on my genealogy social networking (with TweetDeck and the new app for Facebook) and then relax with a good book.
What a great time to be alive (and be a genealogist!)
Facebook Fan Page
This is the tweet that I sent to Dan and his reply. Isn't it great that from my couch, I can work on my genealogy social networking (with TweetDeck and the new app for Facebook) and then relax with a good book.
What a great time to be alive (and be a genealogist!)
Facebook Fan Page
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Under the "Family Reunion" Tent
Carnival of Genealogy, 79th Edition: "Family Reunions"
Update (below)
For the past several years, I have traveled to Connecticut to family "days" for some of the lineage societies that I am life member or a yearly member of, from my maternal New England based families.
This year, I attended the 107th reunion [since 1902] of the Gallup Family Association. Most New England reunions are held locally near to where the immigrant person lived. This year, the reunion was held in the backyard of the "Gallup House" next to the Gallup Cemetery in Ledyard, CT even though there are Gallups everywhere. (Think Gallup poll and Gallup, New Mexico for example)
I was the "newbie" to this reunion so I was given a copy of the current Gallup Genealogy published in 1987 as a prize. The new Gallup genealogy (2 vols.) will be ready in October. I won't be in it as I don't think anyone gave the information for my specific line. They had a printout of the one that went to publication and it was in two huge binders. They announced that it will cost about $100 for life members and be pro-rated for yearly members and non-members. If you are buying one to donate to a library, then anyone may purchase it for donation at the lowest price. Of course, you will have to tell them where you are donating it to (library, historical society, etc.)
Basically, you sit down and make friends and eat a catered New England style lunch. There's a business meeting and sometimes a speaker. You also must stand and introduce yourself, tell where you live and in the case of the Gallup Family Reunion, read off or recite your ancestors from John Gallup down to you. (I had to do it from memory and even I struggled!)
I enjoy seeing multi-generational families at these events. Oftentimes, children and grandchildren "come home" at that specific weekend to visit and attend the reunion. Mostly, however, the people who attend yearly live fairly close by and know each other. Children and grandchildren come from a huge distance and win the prize for the furthest away. One family lived in the South.
I ventured into the woods, on the path, to go to the cemetery. It was an eerie walk and felt like venturing through the woods with Harry Potter at Hogwarts. It is on the land that my ancestors farmed. It is amazing to think that I am walking where they walked every day.
I have been here before but as it is a gated and locked cemetery, it is hard to access. I photographed all of the graves and between Carmen Johnson and myself, we will try to identify who is buried there. Some of the gravestones are hard to read. The sun was bright and it was hot but, I did the best I could.
Rachel Branch, the incoming secretary, read excepts from a family journal and made a display of family photographs. After that, a member's husband took a group photo with his fancy camera.
As it was so hot, people scattered and the whole reunion was only 2 hours. The Mystic, CT area has many attractions and I imagine folks wanted to see them or go home to a cool house.
This reunion will be in this location again next year. I came home and paid my life membership fee. I am looking forward to the new genealogy (which will include the uplines format for easier finding of your direct line ancestors). I have started the process of identifying the photos.
I go yearly to the Denison reunion and hope to make it to the Avery reunion someday!
After posting this here and to the Gallup Message Board, this is what Gallup descendant Judy Armstrong tells about her observation of a past reunion: (used with her permission)
"I was fortunate enough to attend the 100th reunion of the Gallup Family Association held at the same place, i.e., the Gallup estate in Ledyard. It was just wonderful-my favorite part was seeing the children do military drills in costume! They also sang and recited. The walk to the cemetery was very impressive as was the cemetery itself- with our ancestors lying there-some had flags on their plots (Colonels from the Revolutionary War, as I remember). The whole event was a "Life Moment" as I have come to call these wonderful and very outstanding experiences which have occurred in the late years of my life. I encourage all Gallups to attend !"
Update (below)
For the past several years, I have traveled to Connecticut to family "days" for some of the lineage societies that I am life member or a yearly member of, from my maternal New England based families.
This year, I attended the 107th reunion [since 1902] of the Gallup Family Association. Most New England reunions are held locally near to where the immigrant person lived. This year, the reunion was held in the backyard of the "Gallup House" next to the Gallup Cemetery in Ledyard, CT even though there are Gallups everywhere. (Think Gallup poll and Gallup, New Mexico for example)
I was the "newbie" to this reunion so I was given a copy of the current Gallup Genealogy published in 1987 as a prize. The new Gallup genealogy (2 vols.) will be ready in October. I won't be in it as I don't think anyone gave the information for my specific line. They had a printout of the one that went to publication and it was in two huge binders. They announced that it will cost about $100 for life members and be pro-rated for yearly members and non-members. If you are buying one to donate to a library, then anyone may purchase it for donation at the lowest price. Of course, you will have to tell them where you are donating it to (library, historical society, etc.)
Basically, you sit down and make friends and eat a catered New England style lunch. There's a business meeting and sometimes a speaker. You also must stand and introduce yourself, tell where you live and in the case of the Gallup Family Reunion, read off or recite your ancestors from John Gallup down to you. (I had to do it from memory and even I struggled!)
I enjoy seeing multi-generational families at these events. Oftentimes, children and grandchildren "come home" at that specific weekend to visit and attend the reunion. Mostly, however, the people who attend yearly live fairly close by and know each other. Children and grandchildren come from a huge distance and win the prize for the furthest away. One family lived in the South.
I ventured into the woods, on the path, to go to the cemetery. It was an eerie walk and felt like venturing through the woods with Harry Potter at Hogwarts. It is on the land that my ancestors farmed. It is amazing to think that I am walking where they walked every day.
I have been here before but as it is a gated and locked cemetery, it is hard to access. I photographed all of the graves and between Carmen Johnson and myself, we will try to identify who is buried there. Some of the gravestones are hard to read. The sun was bright and it was hot but, I did the best I could.
Rachel Branch, the incoming secretary, read excepts from a family journal and made a display of family photographs. After that, a member's husband took a group photo with his fancy camera.
As it was so hot, people scattered and the whole reunion was only 2 hours. The Mystic, CT area has many attractions and I imagine folks wanted to see them or go home to a cool house.
This reunion will be in this location again next year. I came home and paid my life membership fee. I am looking forward to the new genealogy (which will include the uplines format for easier finding of your direct line ancestors). I have started the process of identifying the photos.
I go yearly to the Denison reunion and hope to make it to the Avery reunion someday!
After posting this here and to the Gallup Message Board, this is what Gallup descendant Judy Armstrong tells about her observation of a past reunion: (used with her permission)
"I was fortunate enough to attend the 100th reunion of the Gallup Family Association held at the same place, i.e., the Gallup estate in Ledyard. It was just wonderful-my favorite part was seeing the children do military drills in costume! They also sang and recited. The walk to the cemetery was very impressive as was the cemetery itself- with our ancestors lying there-some had flags on their plots (Colonels from the Revolutionary War, as I remember). The whole event was a "Life Moment" as I have come to call these wonderful and very outstanding experiences which have occurred in the late years of my life. I encourage all Gallups to attend !"
Annie G. BURROWS
Burrows Cemetery Transcription Project
Annie G. BURROWS / May 13, 1862, / Feb 14, 1843
Front Row, Left Side, Grave #1
Anne B. GREENE, daughter of John5 (Isaiah4, Joshus3, Benjamin2, John1) GREENE and Clarissa "Clara" DENISON (Elam6, Oliver 5, George4, George3, William2, Cap't George1)
wife of Benjamin Franklin BURROWS (her gravestone doesn't tell us her maiden name)
Anne was born in Stonington, New London, CT on 13 May 1862 and died in Stonington, New London, CT on 14 Feb 1943.
Source: Burrows genealogy p. 154, Denison Genealogy p. 108
Annie G. BURROWS / May 13, 1862, / Feb 14, 1843
Front Row, Left Side, Grave #1
Anne B. GREENE, daughter of John5 (Isaiah4, Joshus3, Benjamin2, John1) GREENE and Clarissa "Clara" DENISON (Elam6, Oliver 5, George4, George3, William2, Cap't George1)
wife of Benjamin Franklin BURROWS (her gravestone doesn't tell us her maiden name)
Anne was born in Stonington, New London, CT on 13 May 1862 and died in Stonington, New London, CT on 14 Feb 1943.
Source: Burrows genealogy p. 154, Denison Genealogy p. 108
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Burrows Genealogy
Burrows Cemetery Transcription Project
Before venturing out to this cemetery, I located this family history and genealogy compiled and published in 1975. I located it at Ancestry.com and was surprised because so many of the genealogies found online were compiled or written and published in the late 1800s.
Mr. Burrows, whose first name was probably Raymond, resided in Lakewood, OH. Page 5 of this typewritten document, gives the date of the foreword as December 1974 and his home address as 12075 Lake Ave. Lakewood (Cleveland), Ohio 44107. I am wondering if Mr. Burrows is still living? So, I use the index to locate the name Burrows, Raymond Earle and easily find him listed on pages 512 and 513.
He is listed as born 17 Feb 1894 and being married to Edith HOLE 11 Sept 1920. She died in 1939 and she is listed as being buried at Maple Grove Cemetery, Vermillion, OH. This cemetery is listed at Find a Grave as being in Erie County but no Burrows surname graves are listed.
My next step is to add some data from the genealogy to the Burrows names already in my tree at Ancestry.com.
Before venturing out to this cemetery, I located this family history and genealogy compiled and published in 1975. I located it at Ancestry.com and was surprised because so many of the genealogies found online were compiled or written and published in the late 1800s.
Mr. Burrows, whose first name was probably Raymond, resided in Lakewood, OH. Page 5 of this typewritten document, gives the date of the foreword as December 1974 and his home address as 12075 Lake Ave. Lakewood (Cleveland), Ohio 44107. I am wondering if Mr. Burrows is still living? So, I use the index to locate the name Burrows, Raymond Earle and easily find him listed on pages 512 and 513.
He is listed as born 17 Feb 1894 and being married to Edith HOLE 11 Sept 1920. She died in 1939 and she is listed as being buried at Maple Grove Cemetery, Vermillion, OH. This cemetery is listed at Find a Grave as being in Erie County but no Burrows surname graves are listed.
My next step is to add some data from the genealogy to the Burrows names already in my tree at Ancestry.com.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Right View
Burrows Cemetery Transcription Project
Tombstone Tuesday 25 Aug 2009
The next step is to remember to take some distance shots of the graveyard for the positions of the graves. My digital camera takes clear images that can be brought into an image editing software application so that I can zoom in on the stones in the front and in the back of the image.
I took three shots here, at the end of my visit, right (this photo here), center and left, after determining that the gravestones were purposefully put in rows. I have enlarged each image to be able to print each view out on legal sized paper for me to write notes on.
Notice the wrought iron bench in this cemetery, meant for reflection, that I used to sit down and make sure I had all of the photos I needed before leaving.
Tombstone Tuesday 25 Aug 2009
The next step is to remember to take some distance shots of the graveyard for the positions of the graves. My digital camera takes clear images that can be brought into an image editing software application so that I can zoom in on the stones in the front and in the back of the image.
I took three shots here, at the end of my visit, right (this photo here), center and left, after determining that the gravestones were purposefully put in rows. I have enlarged each image to be able to print each view out on legal sized paper for me to write notes on.
Notice the wrought iron bench in this cemetery, meant for reflection, that I used to sit down and make sure I had all of the photos I needed before leaving.
Cemetery Sign
Burrows Cemetery Transcription Project
Benjamin Burrows Cemetery, Groton, New London, CT
[also known a South Burrows Cemetery]
Upon reaching the cemetery to be photographed, the first thing you should look for is a sign, plaque or marker that identifies the cemetery. If it is an enclosed cemetery, like this one, you should record what the enclosures are made out of. In this case, the front wall of the cemetery is an iron worked fence (in cement with steps) with a gate with the other three walls defined as stone walls.
This plaque identifies the cemetery as having a relationship somehow with the Mystic River Historical Society. This is a clue that the cemetery is of historical significance and an investigation of that must be made as part of the research.
Benjamin Burrows Cemetery, Groton, New London, CT
[also known a South Burrows Cemetery]
Upon reaching the cemetery to be photographed, the first thing you should look for is a sign, plaque or marker that identifies the cemetery. If it is an enclosed cemetery, like this one, you should record what the enclosures are made out of. In this case, the front wall of the cemetery is an iron worked fence (in cement with steps) with a gate with the other three walls defined as stone walls.
This plaque identifies the cemetery as having a relationship somehow with the Mystic River Historical Society. This is a clue that the cemetery is of historical significance and an investigation of that must be made as part of the research.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Photographing a Cemetery
Burrows Cemetery Transcription Project
The Burrows family of Groton, CT set aside land for this small family burying plot about 1822, according to the records put online by the town of Groton, CT.
Known widely as Benjamin Burrows #3 Cemetery, it seems that the town has adopted an official name of South Burrows Cemetery and given the number as cemetery a number of 11.
You can see right away why people have trouble finding small cemeteries, especially if they are traveling a distance to locate them!
The first step to finding a cemetery is to see if the city or town has a listing online or in the town hall. There may not be a listing for the cemetery but most cities and towns do have a Web site with an email address or a phone number. This Web site for Groton lists the cemeteries under town history!
Next, a visit to Find A Grave is important. In the past few years, many cemeteries have been listed, even if no one has taken photographs. Fairly recently, a map of the area with the cemetery is pinpointed and there is an approximate GPS listing of the latitude and longitude of the location.
Here is the Find a Grave listing, Burrows #3 in Groton, New London County, CT. Notice there are some wide shots of the cemetery but only 17 listed graves as opposed to 30 listed by the town. (Don't go by that number as I discovered three graves listed there are really in another cemetery up the street!)
All of these facts need to be typed up and put in a file folder (or as a notes in your cellphone or iPod/iPhone). Plan to keep a list at home and one when you travel in your car.
Google Maps may be of some use for cemeteries that are not covered by vegetation or lots of trees. I did use Google Maps to look at names of side streets after finding out that Route 1 is called New London Road. Google Maps link to this cemetery.
As you locate the cemetery (and get excited about finding it), you need to write down some notes in your file about the location and perhaps a nearby house number so you can find it again.
See the water tower in the Google Maps sky-eye view? I wrote that down and the fact that there is not anywhere visible to park. We located a small inlet a bit up on the busy road and parked there.
The Burrows family of Groton, CT set aside land for this small family burying plot about 1822, according to the records put online by the town of Groton, CT.
Known widely as Benjamin Burrows #3 Cemetery, it seems that the town has adopted an official name of South Burrows Cemetery and given the number as cemetery a number of 11.
You can see right away why people have trouble finding small cemeteries, especially if they are traveling a distance to locate them!
The first step to finding a cemetery is to see if the city or town has a listing online or in the town hall. There may not be a listing for the cemetery but most cities and towns do have a Web site with an email address or a phone number. This Web site for Groton lists the cemeteries under town history!
Next, a visit to Find A Grave is important. In the past few years, many cemeteries have been listed, even if no one has taken photographs. Fairly recently, a map of the area with the cemetery is pinpointed and there is an approximate GPS listing of the latitude and longitude of the location.
Here is the Find a Grave listing, Burrows #3 in Groton, New London County, CT. Notice there are some wide shots of the cemetery but only 17 listed graves as opposed to 30 listed by the town. (Don't go by that number as I discovered three graves listed there are really in another cemetery up the street!)
All of these facts need to be typed up and put in a file folder (or as a notes in your cellphone or iPod/iPhone). Plan to keep a list at home and one when you travel in your car.
Google Maps may be of some use for cemeteries that are not covered by vegetation or lots of trees. I did use Google Maps to look at names of side streets after finding out that Route 1 is called New London Road. Google Maps link to this cemetery.
As you locate the cemetery (and get excited about finding it), you need to write down some notes in your file about the location and perhaps a nearby house number so you can find it again.
See the water tower in the Google Maps sky-eye view? I wrote that down and the fact that there is not anywhere visible to park. We located a small inlet a bit up on the busy road and parked there.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Traveling Photographer
Graveyard Rabbits: September 2009 Carousel
A family surname, SCHOLFIELD, catches my eye as I dash by row after row of ancestors in the lovely River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, RI. snapping photo after photo.
Working with the many graves in this resting place, is a lot like being on a merry-go-round. I "ooh and ahhh" with delight in each section! This is a brass ring gravestone for sure because it has a great story.
This gravestone, typical of its period, marks the grave of Edwin and his second wife Celesteny. Edwin was a descendant of the SCHOLFIELD textile mill owners who came to America from England with the plans to make the first woolen mill in America, etched firmly in their minds. (They has to memorize them as the English did not allow them to take the industry from England) The families moved around a lot building mills and then selling them. Scholfields were a prominent family in the Montville, New London, Connecticut. They were smart, creative and inventive.
According to the biographical information from the White Library at Mystic Seaport, Everett was born in Lowell, MA but his parents moved to Westerly, RI in the early 1850s where he became a portrait photographer. He served with the Union Army during the Civil War. He married twice, was a Freemason, and had several partners in his photography business in Wakefield, RI, Norwich, CT and Putnam, CT besides Mystic.
What is most interesting is that the US Internal Revenue gave him a license to "carry on the occupation of Traveling Photographer" from Feb 1 to May 1, 1864 and May 1, 1864 to May 1965. He spent much time in the West Indies.
He and his brother Addison established the "Scholfield Brothers" studio in Westerly, RI and eventually his other brother Edwin joined them. [Read the biography to learn more...]
Many of my family photographs were taken in this studio. It is always great to find a story about your ancestors and to be able to know something about the photographers who took your family portraits. [This one is for you fM!]
A family surname, SCHOLFIELD, catches my eye as I dash by row after row of ancestors in the lovely River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, RI. snapping photo after photo.
Working with the many graves in this resting place, is a lot like being on a merry-go-round. I "ooh and ahhh" with delight in each section! This is a brass ring gravestone for sure because it has a great story.
This gravestone, typical of its period, marks the grave of Edwin and his second wife Celesteny. Edwin was a descendant of the SCHOLFIELD textile mill owners who came to America from England with the plans to make the first woolen mill in America, etched firmly in their minds. (They has to memorize them as the English did not allow them to take the industry from England) The families moved around a lot building mills and then selling them. Scholfields were a prominent family in the Montville, New London, Connecticut. They were smart, creative and inventive.
According to the biographical information from the White Library at Mystic Seaport, Everett was born in Lowell, MA but his parents moved to Westerly, RI in the early 1850s where he became a portrait photographer. He served with the Union Army during the Civil War. He married twice, was a Freemason, and had several partners in his photography business in Wakefield, RI, Norwich, CT and Putnam, CT besides Mystic.
What is most interesting is that the US Internal Revenue gave him a license to "carry on the occupation of Traveling Photographer" from Feb 1 to May 1, 1864 and May 1, 1864 to May 1965. He spent much time in the West Indies.
He and his brother Addison established the "Scholfield Brothers" studio in Westerly, RI and eventually his other brother Edwin joined them. [Read the biography to learn more...]
Many of my family photographs were taken in this studio. It is always great to find a story about your ancestors and to be able to know something about the photographers who took your family portraits. [This one is for you fM!]
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Cottrell Old Yankee Ale
With all my photos backed up and organized in folders, it is time to take a break on what is probably the hottest day of the year. Most people would kick back and have a beer.
Well, my husband is the beer drinker and he ordered a glass of the local ale on tap while we were away. He recognized the name as one that is frequently seen in the graveyards in Westerly, RI and nearby Pawcatuck, CT. I took this photo to remind me to look up the brewing company when I got home.
The Cottrell Brewing Company has a history page and it is worth reading but only for those who have attained the "adult beverage" age!
A toast to "Tombstone Tuesday" everywhere and hoping it is forever summer in spirit.
Well, my husband is the beer drinker and he ordered a glass of the local ale on tap while we were away. He recognized the name as one that is frequently seen in the graveyards in Westerly, RI and nearby Pawcatuck, CT. I took this photo to remind me to look up the brewing company when I got home.
The Cottrell Brewing Company has a history page and it is worth reading but only for those who have attained the "adult beverage" age!
A toast to "Tombstone Tuesday" everywhere and hoping it is forever summer in spirit.
Headstone & Footstone
Tombstone Tuesday 18 Aug 2009
This is a view of Nathan and Barbary (Palmer) STEWARD, one set of my fourth great grandparents who are buried in the Great Plain Cemetery (#57) in North Stonington, CT.
Normally, we take photos of the headstones and only take photos of the footstones if the headstone is unreadable or missing.
I felt that I should turn away from the gravestone that I was photographing, to look at the stones from this angle. I am glad I did because it made me think about all of the things I have learned about gravestones since I started photographing graves.
Many ancient cemeteries in New England have lost this classic arrangement of headstones and footstones due to the footstones being broken when the grass is mowed. Sometimes, the footstone sinks into the ground, as it is usually smaller.
All too often the person mowing the grass has removed the footstones to make the job of mowing easier. Remember, the body of the person is between the headstone and footstone! As a child, I was told I should not walk on the dead. Were you told this?
Yes, this is supposed to look like a bed for sleeping. It was the intention for us to think our loved ones are sleeping until the day of reckoning when the souls of the dead are called to heaven.
As this idea changed with the time period, people stopped paying for the footstones to be placed and the name or initials of the dead put on them. Sometimes, the carving on the footstones is all I have had to be able to match a name to a list of people who are buried in the cemetery.
As I am working up ideas for a presentation on learning about graveyards, I have been thinking about all the things that people might not know about New England graveyards.
If you didn't know about this, could you please leave a comment. Should this photo be part of my presentation?
This is a view of Nathan and Barbary (Palmer) STEWARD, one set of my fourth great grandparents who are buried in the Great Plain Cemetery (#57) in North Stonington, CT.
Normally, we take photos of the headstones and only take photos of the footstones if the headstone is unreadable or missing.
I felt that I should turn away from the gravestone that I was photographing, to look at the stones from this angle. I am glad I did because it made me think about all of the things I have learned about gravestones since I started photographing graves.
Many ancient cemeteries in New England have lost this classic arrangement of headstones and footstones due to the footstones being broken when the grass is mowed. Sometimes, the footstone sinks into the ground, as it is usually smaller.
All too often the person mowing the grass has removed the footstones to make the job of mowing easier. Remember, the body of the person is between the headstone and footstone! As a child, I was told I should not walk on the dead. Were you told this?
Yes, this is supposed to look like a bed for sleeping. It was the intention for us to think our loved ones are sleeping until the day of reckoning when the souls of the dead are called to heaven.
As this idea changed with the time period, people stopped paying for the footstones to be placed and the name or initials of the dead put on them. Sometimes, the carving on the footstones is all I have had to be able to match a name to a list of people who are buried in the cemetery.
As I am working up ideas for a presentation on learning about graveyards, I have been thinking about all the things that people might not know about New England graveyards.
If you didn't know about this, could you please leave a comment. Should this photo be part of my presentation?
Monday, August 17, 2009
Time of Day Counts
Last November, I posted a photo I took in July 2008 of this monument. It was so unreadable that day that we used the mirror to try to take a better shot. It was awful. I was disappointed.
In April, I bought a tombstone rubbing wax/crayon and in June, I went to a fabric store and bought non-fusible pellon interfacing and put them in my graveyard bag along with masking tape for this trip back. I felt ready to find out what this grave really says.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the time of day made a huge difference in the readability of this granite monument! I actually got three good shots. My husband is convinced that they put up a new monument since we were there last time! (They haven't, I am sure!)
I will post another shot of this and explain why this is important at a later date.
In April, I bought a tombstone rubbing wax/crayon and in June, I went to a fabric store and bought non-fusible pellon interfacing and put them in my graveyard bag along with masking tape for this trip back. I felt ready to find out what this grave really says.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the time of day made a huge difference in the readability of this granite monument! I actually got three good shots. My husband is convinced that they put up a new monument since we were there last time! (They haven't, I am sure!)
I will post another shot of this and explain why this is important at a later date.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Resting at Elm Grove
During this three day weekend "vacation" I have attended a family reunion, done research in a cemetery office, stayed two night in a hotel, put my feet in a pool, enjoyed two good night's sleep, ate meals out and oh, yes, visited and taken photographs in 6 cemeteries.
I am a bit tired. I am obsessed with backing up my photos to my external hard drive, doing laundry and cleaning my suitcase.
This is me, sitting on the flat gravestone of my great grandparents Charles Edward Stewart and Ada Ann Evans. They won't mind. They didn't know me. Good thing. I am dressing in sloppy shorts and comfortable shirt and an old pair of sneakers. The grass was very wet but it didn't stop me.
I have about 3.5 GB of photos to transcribe. That should take me quite a while, huh?
I am a bit tired. I am obsessed with backing up my photos to my external hard drive, doing laundry and cleaning my suitcase.
This is me, sitting on the flat gravestone of my great grandparents Charles Edward Stewart and Ada Ann Evans. They won't mind. They didn't know me. Good thing. I am dressing in sloppy shorts and comfortable shirt and an old pair of sneakers. The grass was very wet but it didn't stop me.
I have about 3.5 GB of photos to transcribe. That should take me quite a while, huh?
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Revolution Rock
The large boulder is in the Gallup Hill Burying Ground. Soon, I imagine it will become unreadable.
It is a great list of Revolutionary War men buried in this graveyard. It would be nice if every cemetery had a list of military men and the wars in which they served so that the gravestone hunters like me could easily find them and photograph their graves.
Flickr has many such groups where people ONLY take photos of gravestone of those who served.When put all together in one place, you can see the differences, regionally, in the gravestones that families placed there. Many simply waited for the standard military marker that the government provides.
It is a great list of Revolutionary War men buried in this graveyard. It would be nice if every cemetery had a list of military men and the wars in which they served so that the gravestone hunters like me could easily find them and photograph their graves.
Flickr has many such groups where people ONLY take photos of gravestone of those who served.When put all together in one place, you can see the differences, regionally, in the gravestones that families placed there. Many simply waited for the standard military marker that the government provides.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Gallup Family Reunion
Very soon I will be galloping toward the Gallup Family Reunion in Ledyard,CT. This is my first year as a member of the Gallups as I joined last summer as part of our "Genea-bloggers Summer Games".
My longtime Internet and Facebook pal, Carmen Johnson and I actually chatted on the phone lately. She hosts the page for all us Gallups. She does a fine job! It was fun to talk to her and makes me wonder why genealogists wait until a convention to actually voice speak to each other?
Carmen lives many states to the West and probably won't make a reunion so I have promised to be her eyes and ears. I hope to have time to take more gravestone in the cemetery you see here. Climbing over the wall is an Olympic feat in itself so it will be nice to see the gate opened.
I am hoping for a sunny, low humidity day to view Col. Benadam Gallup's grave and to picnic with my fellow Gallups.
Wish me luck! I'll be Bolde and Wyse for sure!
My longtime Internet and Facebook pal, Carmen Johnson and I actually chatted on the phone lately. She hosts the page for all us Gallups. She does a fine job! It was fun to talk to her and makes me wonder why genealogists wait until a convention to actually voice speak to each other?
Carmen lives many states to the West and probably won't make a reunion so I have promised to be her eyes and ears. I hope to have time to take more gravestone in the cemetery you see here. Climbing over the wall is an Olympic feat in itself so it will be nice to see the gate opened.
I am hoping for a sunny, low humidity day to view Col. Benadam Gallup's grave and to picnic with my fellow Gallups.
Wish me luck! I'll be Bolde and Wyse for sure!
Sunday, August 09, 2009
This is a test of your local Broadcast System!
Funny what genealogists will pay attention to?
Most folks when presented with the "warning on their TV screen of a test of their local broadcast networks", simply sit there until the message is over and never get up and check to see that they have a working radio, batteries or bottled water to get through a crisis. Emergency? I think not. Most don't get it, do they?
Last night Randy Seaver posted his Saturday night fun for genealogists asking us to look at your 16 2nd great grandparents and figure out "where they came from". I didn't know how to make a list of them using RootsMagic (this is a new software program for me) so I leapt off the couch, put down my iPod (with Twitter on it) and went up to my desktop computer to follow his directions. Worked great, by the way, thanks Randy, love learning new tech tricks.
I printed it out and responded as a comment to his blog not bothering to post the list of names of the "Sweet Sixteen". So they were English, Scotch and French. How nice, I thought, I know all of their names. But, then, it has cost me a lot of money to find that out. Probably spent my emergency money, didn't I?
Feeling like a genealogist, I posted a status update to my Facebook page "goading people on" with the comment that what have people been doing all this time that they don't know all of the names of their "Sweet Sixteen"! It didn't take long for people to post their naming problems. I think this is great. It shows that everyone has trouble with knowing the names of their 2nd great grandparents. Dead people are such fun.
It marks you as a genealogist to actually care that you have recorded (some, all, part, possible first, last, middle) names of that generation. Just ask your Muggle friends (oh, sorry non-magic-non-genealogy folk) to name even their grandparents names. They simply don't know. I try it at every party I go to! What annoys people most is that I remember the "muggles" I have already asked so I don't ask them again. They didn't see the emergency in finding out, would they?
Really, folks, I am just trying to find someone to talk to at parties as I don't imbibe "adult beverages" anymore. (Thanks, cousin Thomas for defining that for me.)
Genealogy is fun no matter what day of the week it is!
Most folks when presented with the "warning on their TV screen of a test of their local broadcast networks", simply sit there until the message is over and never get up and check to see that they have a working radio, batteries or bottled water to get through a crisis. Emergency? I think not. Most don't get it, do they?
Last night Randy Seaver posted his Saturday night fun for genealogists asking us to look at your 16 2nd great grandparents and figure out "where they came from". I didn't know how to make a list of them using RootsMagic (this is a new software program for me) so I leapt off the couch, put down my iPod (with Twitter on it) and went up to my desktop computer to follow his directions. Worked great, by the way, thanks Randy, love learning new tech tricks.
I printed it out and responded as a comment to his blog not bothering to post the list of names of the "Sweet Sixteen". So they were English, Scotch and French. How nice, I thought, I know all of their names. But, then, it has cost me a lot of money to find that out. Probably spent my emergency money, didn't I?
Feeling like a genealogist, I posted a status update to my Facebook page "goading people on" with the comment that what have people been doing all this time that they don't know all of the names of their "Sweet Sixteen"! It didn't take long for people to post their naming problems. I think this is great. It shows that everyone has trouble with knowing the names of their 2nd great grandparents. Dead people are such fun.
It marks you as a genealogist to actually care that you have recorded (some, all, part, possible first, last, middle) names of that generation. Just ask your Muggle friends (oh, sorry non-magic-non-genealogy folk) to name even their grandparents names. They simply don't know. I try it at every party I go to! What annoys people most is that I remember the "muggles" I have already asked so I don't ask them again. They didn't see the emergency in finding out, would they?
Really, folks, I am just trying to find someone to talk to at parties as I don't imbibe "adult beverages" anymore. (Thanks, cousin Thomas for defining that for me.)
Genealogy is fun no matter what day of the week it is!
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Eunice, relict of Beriah Grant
This is the wife of my previous post, her name is Eunice but I don't know her maiden name (it might be Miner or Denison)?
In Memory of/ Mrs. Eunice/ relict of/ Mr. Beriah Grant / who died/ Feb 29 1835/ aged 77 years
In Memory of/ Mrs. Eunice/ relict of/ Mr. Beriah Grant / who died/ Feb 29 1835/ aged 77 years
Friday, August 07, 2009
Beriah GRANT
In memory of/ Mr. Beriah Grant/ who died/ Oct. 3, 1825/ aged 74 years
I can't connect this man or his wife to either family buried nearby. He is not listed in Wheeler's History of Stonington as a member of the Grant family.
See the previous post for placement of this stone and his wife's stone in relation to others nearby at Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, CT
I can't connect this man or his wife to either family buried nearby. He is not listed in Wheeler's History of Stonington as a member of the Grant family.
See the previous post for placement of this stone and his wife's stone in relation to others nearby at Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, CT
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Unknown Dead Couple
A couple of years ago, I photographed this section and figured out how they connected to my Denison and Miner families but then, I looked at the brownstone stones behind this group? Who are these people? I put them back on my "to photograph" list for the next summer.
Any old gravestones in this cemetery have been moved from a smaller graveyard to here. Doesn't it look to you (see the yellow arrows) that they are alone and not directly next to or near the other graves?
When I returned to this section, I photographed each stone you see here and then walked back to see if I could read the stones in the back. The digital camera did a better job of letting me know who they were that it did standing in front of them!
Any old gravestones in this cemetery have been moved from a smaller graveyard to here. Doesn't it look to you (see the yellow arrows) that they are alone and not directly next to or near the other graves?
When I returned to this section, I photographed each stone you see here and then walked back to see if I could read the stones in the back. The digital camera did a better job of letting me know who they were that it did standing in front of them!
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Thompson Monument
Sometimes when you are out gravestone hunting, you are stopped DEAD in your tracks by an unusual monument. I am quite purposeful when I am searching for a particular grave. My husband says I am on a mission. [This is at River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, RI]
Well, why is this monument so odd? It has only one word on it. It looked "unfinished". What is the purpose of the circular flat top?
Well, that's Tombstone Tuesday for you, isn't it?
Well, why is this monument so odd? It has only one word on it. It looked "unfinished". What is the purpose of the circular flat top?
Well, that's Tombstone Tuesday for you, isn't it?
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